The Mariners Bullpen Has Forgotten How To Pitch

If you’re reading this, you more than likely love the Seattle Mariners. Since the start of 2017, our team has made me want to set my hair on fire. However, is there hope for the team with the longest current playoff drought?

Just recently, a statue was put up in front of Safeco Field of the highest hall of fame vote getter Ken Griffey Jr. Although it is mostly supposed to commemorate one of the great careers in baseball, it currently serves another purpose to Mariners fans.

Everytime an M’s fan passes that statue, it only reminds them of the good ol’ days. Also, it reminds us of how long ago those good ol’ days were.

2017 was one of the most anticipated years in recent Mariners history. The return of the King, Robinson Cano, and Nelson Cruz causing offensive havoc, and so much more.

The offense has been flawless to this point in the campaign. They have consistently put up a lot of runs and continue to put up big numbers.

The defense has been pretty good to this point. Although they have had some miscues, for the most part, they have been solid.

And finally, the starters have been amazing. James Paxton pitching like a Cy Young candidate and the rotation as a whole sporting a 3.34 ERA.

So, why can’t we win games?

What Went Wrong?

Frankly, the bullpen just forgot how to baseball.

To preface this, I am not a fan of reliever ERA’s, but this situation is different. The Mariners currently have the highest bullpen ERA in baseball… by a long-shot.

The Mariners current bullpen ERA is 7.71, and when four of your relievers have ERA’s above 10.00, something is wrong.

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To simplify that horrific number, we will go with some more basic numbers. In 32.2 innings pitched, the bullpen has surrendered 28 earned runs. Not to mention, inherited runners that don’t go against their ERA.

Also in that amount of innings, they have surrendered 47 hits, which equates to a 1.81 total bullpen WHIP.

Are The Mariners Doomed?

Short answer, not yet. However, we cannot keep doing what we have been doing so far.

The bullpen is young, but youth cannot be an excuse this year for the Mariners. Matter of fact, nothing can be an excuse this year. This has to be the year the Mariners make the playoffs.

We have fireballers in the bullpen, and superstars crowded in the lineup and the rotation. No reason that we cannot do something amazing this season, and that is the expectation.

Whatever the bullpen has to do to right the ship, they have to do it as soon as possible. Their struggles are not from a lack of talent, merely a lack of execution.

Next: Mariners Series Preview

However, I do not doubt that the Mariners will get back into the form we expected and hopefully but a World Series banner next to the one that says “116 wins” under 2001.